Maintaining accurate medication lists in the medical record and ensuring patient medication adherence remains an ongoing challenge. In this cross-sectional study, researchers tested the use of a mass spectrometry assay to identify medication adherence among 1346 patients across 3 different care settings. Mass spectrometry testing revealed discrepancies between medications listed as prescribed in the electronic health record and what patients were actually taking. The authors suggest that the use of such testing may be helpful in improving both the accuracy of medication lists and medication adherence.

To reduce opioid risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that frontline providers minimize the number of opioid tablets they prescribe for acute pain. This pre–post study examined the effect of implementing a 10-tablet default prescription in the electronic medical record in two urban emergency departments. The intervention changed prescribing habits but did not reduce the already low overall number of tablets prescribed. Two PSNet perspectives explore the intersection of patient safety and the opioid epidemic.

Opening multiple patients' charts in the electronic medical record simultaneously may increase the risk of wrong-patient orders, a known patient safety hazard. Researchers analyzed intercepted wrong-patient medication orders in an emergency department over a 6-year period and found no significant reduction when the maximum number of charts allowed to be open at the same time decreased from 4 to 2. Similarly, there was no significant increase when the maximum number of charts permitted to be open simultaneously increased from 2 to 4.

The weekend effect (higher mortality for patients in acute care settings on weekends compared to weekdays) has led to widespread concerns about hospital staffing. This retrospective study examined whether mortality for emergency admissions at four hospitals in the United Kingdom differed on weekends compared to weekdays. Unlike prior studies of the weekend effect, this study included multiple specific markers of patients' illness severity as well as hospital workload. Investigators found higher mortality associated with being admitted to the hospital during weekends compared to weekdays, but a significant proportion of the observed weekend effect was explained by severity of patient illness. They used three measures to approximate hospital workload: total number of admissions, net admissions (subtracting discharges from admissions), and percentage of beds occupied. None of these workload measures was associated with mortality. The authors conclude that differences in illness severity rather than health care team staffing explain the weekend effect. A recent PSNet interview discussed the weekend effect in health care.

Cases & Commentaries

An older man with multiple medical conditions was found hypoxic, hypotensive, and tachycardic. He was taken to the hospital. Providers there were unable to determine the patient's wishes for life-sustaining care, and, unaware that he had previously completed a DNR/DNI order, they placed him on a mechanical ventilator.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

Many emergency departments have recently implemented electronic health records, which has introduced new safety hazards. This news article reports on challenges associated with the growing use of electronic health records in emergency care, including insufficient usability and increased risk of documentation errors.

Journal Article > Commentary

Misdiagnosis and errors linked to electronic health records (EHRs) are common concerns in patient safety. This commentary examines these elements in the context of the first Ebola case in the United States to reveal weaknesses in emergency department care, disaster management, and diagnostic processes. The case analysis highlights challenges associated with forming diagnoses and the usability of EHRs as decision support tools.

Journal Article > Study

As they become more prevalent, electronic medical records (EMRs) are being used to improve safety in increasingly creative ways. Recent studies have shown that EMRs can be used to detect diagnostic errors and postoperative complications with accuracy. In this study, the investigators developed an automated method for detecting unapproved abbreviations (UAAs) within clinicians' notes, measured the incidence of UAAs over time, and fed back data to individual clinicians on their use of UAAs. This system resulted in a significant reduction in the use of UAAs over the 6-month study period. Since using UAAs is common and has been linked to serious adverse events, this study demonstrates another potential use of EMRs to improve patient safety.

Journal Article > Commentary

Implementing new information systems can have unintended consequences on processes. This commentary explores insights from a physician, both as a clinician and as the family member of a patient, regarding the impact of hard stops in electronic health records intended to prevent gaps in data entry prior to task progression. The author raises awareness of the potential for patient harm due to interruptions and diminishing student and clinician skill in asking questions to build effective patient histories.

Cases & Commentaries

After an emergency department (ED) physician interpreted results of a point-of-care ultrasound as showing stable low ejection fraction, some volume overload, and a mechanical mitral valve in place without regurgitation for a man with a history of congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and mechanical mitral valve replacement who presented with shortness of breath, the patient was admitted with a presumed diagnosis of volume overload. Reassured by the ED physician's interpretation of the ultrasound, the hospitalist ordered no further cardiac testing. The patient underwent hemodialysis, felt better, and was discharged. Less than 12 hours later, the patient returned critically ill and in cardiogenic shock. An emergency transthoracic echocardiogram found a thrombosed mitral valve, which had led to acute mitral stenosis and cardiogenic shock.

Cases & Commentaries

Administered antibiotics in the emergency department and rushed to the operating room for emergent cesarean delivery, a pregnant woman was found to have an infection of the amniotic sac. After delivery, she was transferred to the hospital floor without a continuation order for antibiotics. Within 24 hours, the inpatient team realized she had developed septic shock.

Journal Article > Commentary

Emergency departments are high-risk environments due to the urgency of care needs and complexity of communication. This commentary explores challenges associated with medication administration, handoffs, discharge processes, and electronic health records in emergency medicine and recommends strategies to reduce risks.

Journal Article > Study

This survey found that physicians chart or write orders in the wrong patient's electronic health record 1.3% of the time, with significant errors for nurses and clinical assistants as well. Respondents believed that a simple solution such as a prominent room number watermark on the screen would prevent such errors, reinforcing the need to be able to augment electronic health record interfaces to improve safety.

Cases & Commentaries

A teenager presented to an urgent care clinic with new bumps and white spots near her tongue. Although she was diagnosed with herpetic gingivostomatitis, the after-visit summary incorrectly populated the diagnosis of "thrush" from the triage information, which was not updated with the correct diagnosis. The mistake on the printout caused confusion for the patient's mother and necessitated several follow-up communications to clear up.

Cases & Commentaries

After a new electronic health record was introduced without automatically transferring patients' allergy information to the corresponding fields, a woman was given an antibiotic she was allergic to, which resulted in her being admitted to the intensive care unit.

Cases & Commentaries

A patient requiring orthopedic follow-up after an emergency department visit missed his appointment, and a secretary canceled the referral in the electronic medical record to minimize black marks on the hospital’s 30-day referral quality scorecard. Because the primary physician did not receive notice of the cancellation, follow-up was delayed.

Cases & Commentaries

An elderly, non–English-speaking man with diabetes was admitted to the hospital twice in 8 days due to hypoglycemia. At discharge, the patient was instructed not to take any antidiabetic medications. In between hospitalizations, he saw his primary care physician, who restarted an antidiabetic medication.

Cases & Commentaries

A patient presenting to the ED with chest pain was ruled out for MI, and discharged on an ACE inhibitor. Two weeks later, he returns with a critically elevated potassium level, has a cardiac arrest, and dies.

Journal Article > Study

This study examined the utility of a multimedia kiosk to capture parents' knowledge of their children's asthma medication history. Investigators compared the parental information with that documented by emergency department providers. Results suggested greatest accuracy in medication name followed by route of delivery, form of medication, and dose. The authors conclude that patient-derived data can be effective in improving current deficits in medication documentation during emergency department visits.